Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-12-23
A MEXICAN BANDIT.

Ten uoiIaT TOLLS ulcely packed Ill q VallSe W1Un
a few toilet articles, and $4,000 in bank
notes and bills of exchange snugly sewed into
a thin belt worn about his person. In an
outside belt, elegantly embroidered he wore
q superbly jeweled revolver, warranted to be
useful as weapon at long range, in the hand
of a self collected man resting under safe
shelter
AS to other personal furniture, his COM
Portable figure was adorned with fine gold
watch, possessing national reputation for
beauty and value throughout the republic of
Mexico, and hat covered with gold lace
and bangles that made it the envy of all the
beaux in town.
Under these conditions Mr. Edgar Wood
entered the ten mule stage that stood in the
patio of the Hotel Iturbide, for trip down
the country to pay off 5000 laborers
months wages.
The stage started. The wealthy contractor
was alone that morning. 'This month"; he
considered, will cost me $4,000, for which
outlay the government pays me 100000,
which is $4,000 clear gain. In two more I
shall be in good trim, and then shall ask
old Juarez for Emilia. | think she admired
me last night when | said my adieu" And
lie looked at his pistol, his fine watch and ele-
can't hat, and-a rifle ball whistled through
the coach window, followed by command
of 'Pararse!n (halt).
There is no discussing such an order given
under such circumstances
1t was not possible for Mr.. Wood to say
just how he looked, but he felt very pale,
when a pleasant, gentlemanly voice at the
window inquired, ''Have I the honor of adj
dressing Senior Edgaro Wood:n
THAT is my name, sir"
"Ah, Don Edgaro, I am so sorry to have to
modest you i'll your journey, but won't you
do me the favor to alight for a mementsn
Now, if there was one quality on which
that gentleman prided himself more than on
another, it was the superiority of his man.
ners He was known as the polite American
of Mexico, and 80, when addressed simple
request in such courteous terms, he was fain
to comply.
He therefore aighted, and tried to do so
promptly but his motions were not so grace
full as usual; there seemed a tremulous ex-
citement, almost a stagger, in his move
ments, when he looked about him.
-Four men, armed with culasses, rifles and
revolvers, stood ready to receive him. The
upper half of each face was covered with a
black mask They We're evidently natives,
save one-whose head, broader than the 9TH
ers at the temples and rudcly face below the
mask ending in thin, frouzly, tow colored
goatee-seemed to indicate an Englishman.
Mr. Wood, noting him carefully, thought he
had seen him before, but failed in any at
tempt to place him.
''Senor Wood, y said the spokesman, advanc-
ing, 81 am pleased to greet you, and regret
that you are not able to reciprocate the cor
dial sentiments | entertain for you. | must
say, Amiguillo you wear a charming hat,
and such things are so common to you that
am sure there will be no objection to an ex-
change See what poor thing | wear, ami
so unsuited to my years and position in So
cety! 1t fits well, too And also, Senior
Wood, you are said to possess an excellent
watch that, sir, would be an extremely con-
venient article to have in my profession, that
l may be prompt in meeting the stage, and
thus avoid tiresome watching. will accept
it, with your permission"
Mr. Wood was rapidly learning to adapt
himself to circumstances. He knew he must
submit to being stripped so, handing over the
watch with. the best grace possible, he said,
with smile and bow, MAY | present you
with a pistol, as good as there is in the repub-
lie, except your own?'
''Ah, senior, now you fatter me; accept it
Ill our lldillt, tilillSulllO fAlltl diSO SGuOl,
l admire your coat; let us exchange Your
trousers, too, will fit me nicely, and your
boots, even if little large, will be better
| than these. Have the goodness to be seated
on my old coat, and we will assist you in re-
moving them; we are experienced Wallets"
To have observed the face of Mr.. Edgar
| Wood now, you would have thought he was
engaged in a frolic He used to say, in tell
ing this story, that he felt all through the
performance as if he were being joked by a
| friend
"And nOw,n continued the ladron, eve
will trouble you, Senior Wood, to pass out
your valise if you will be so obliging.n
MI Wood hesitated for the first time, and
looked around, but there was no mercy; the
muzzies of three pieces looked into his eyes,
while he replied, every well, gentleman, if
YOU insist" He handed out the heavy va
Iise, which was taken aside by the Mexicans
while the English looking thief kept guard at
| the stage door. When the precious cargo
was removed to a short distance from its
owner, the sentinel muttered to him in
English eff you give me 81, 900, unseen, from
| your belt, you can have the rest; otherwise,
I'll fix every dollar you've got"
Mr. Wood felt sure he had somewhere seen
the face, of which the mouth and chin were
exposed, but if he suspected the truth, he
kept it to himself, and quietly handed over
the money to the man.
In few minutes the nearly empty valise
was returned, and the party babe the trav-
eler adieu and wished him q safe journey
| In his disagreeable fix he could only ride till
he met the return stage, and go with it to the
capital, under the shelter of a shawl lent him
by a sympathetic lady among the passen
gers, with whom, at noon, he entered the
patio, from which he had so exultingly sal
lied in the early morning The idle popu
lace, as usual, rushed in with the stage, anC
witnessed the discontinue of the American
as he darted across the pavement to the
nearest entrance of the hotel and made hi!
way to his room.
When Mr. Wood emerged therefrom, h
made his way to the English bank, to deposi
the papers saved in his belt, and there en-
countered the second surprise Of the day
The teller who received and credited hin
with the amount was the counterpart of tn
English robber of the morning but he had nj
beard, nor could Wood recall that he hac
ever seen him adorned with that symptom Of
manhood. Il WAS impossible that he SHOULD
be & ladron-his position in the bank, hi
easy, self possessed manner, not brazen, bu
natural and innocent. No, it was a mistake
The next day, there being several Mexican
merchants to start for Vera Cruz, Mr.. Henr.
Yorke, of Wood & Co., was dispatched witt
them in the morning stage. He went wei
armed, and hadthe name of being fighting
man. But as yet no crowd OF Mexican pas
sengers has frightened band of robber
from its enterprise, and so, at sunrise, YofK
discovered two small squads OF horsemel